Today, The Rainbow Project, Northern Ireland’s largest support organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people expressed its disappointment at the Supreme Court ruling that Ashers baking company had not acted unlawfully by refusing to fulfil their contractual agreement to make a cake with a slogan supporting marriage equality.

Reacting to the judgment, John O’Doherty, Director of The Rainbow Project said: ‘We are disappointed by this judgment.

‘Ashers agreed to make the cake. They entered into a contractual agreement to make this cake and then changed their mind. While sympathetic as some may be to the position in which the company finds itself; this does not change the facts of the case. We believe this is direct discrimination for which there can be no justification. We will however take time to study this judgment by the Supreme Court to understand fully its implications for the rights of LGBT people to access goods, facilities and services without discrimination.

‘We do not believe that this matter should have been brought to court. We believe that Ashers bakery should have accepted the Equality Commission’s invitation to engage in mediation, where a remedy could have been found without the expense and division surrounding this court case.

‘However, most damaging of all has been the attempt by politicians to use this case to justify amending the law to allow businesses to discriminate against LGB&T people with the so-called ‘conscience clause.’

‘We once again extend the hand of friendship to all people of faith, churches and families. We would encourage faith leaders to engage with our community to ensure better relations and to develop trust and respect between our overlapping communities for the betterment of our society.’

One of our sexual health volunteers discusses his experience living with HIV and highlights how we're failing not only to support people who are living with HIV & AIDS but failing to prevent further new diagnoses by burying our heads in the sand!

The Rainbow Project’s staff team are responsible for the operational delivery of the The Rainbow Projects services and advocacy work. Our dedicated team work hard to meet the needs of LGB&/T people and their families in Northern Ireland. Meet the team below.

Balanitis, Cystitis, Non-Specific Urethritis, Proctitis (part of a group infections called NSGI’s or Non-Specific Genital Infections) and Thrush are all common infections which are caused by an inflammation of the lining of certain parts of your body.

The Rainbow Project is devoted to promoting the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people and their families in Northern Ireland, as well as those questioning their orientation or gender, through partnership, advocacy and the development and delivery of appropriate support services.

The Rainbow Project provides the only LGB&/T specific counselling service in Northern Ireland. Counselling offers an opportunity to talk in confidence about challenges, losses, problems or issues that concern you.

The Rainbow Project is funded to provide LGBT individuals with access to free Safer Sex Packs in Northern Ireland. You can receive a pack by simply filling out the form attached below and you will receive your pack within 2 weeks.

The Rainbow Project couldn’t carry out its work without the help of our amazing team of volunteers. We have a strong volunteering ethos and seek to create opportunities for people to contribute to our overall organisational aims and objectives.

The Rainbow Project has today published 65 letters received from LGBT people from across Northern Ireland and from individuals who no longer live in Northern Ireland in response to its #DearArlene campaign. Here are some of the responses.